§ 83 and 84. Mr. Edelmanasked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is aware of the threatened redundancy in the motor-cycle industry in Coventry; and what action he intends to take in order to maintain full employment in the industry;
(2) whether he is aware of the growing redundancy and unemployment in the 87W motor industry; and what action he intends to take to ensure that this industry may be used to its maximum capacity.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI am aware that some motor car firms have discharged workers or gone on to short-time working in recent months, and that there is a small prospective redundancy at one motorcycle firm in Coventry. There has, however, been little change in the level of unemployment in the motor vehicle and cycle industries, which is at a rate about half the average for all industries and services, while the latest avilable comprehensive figures for short-time working show that at the end of August 2,400 workers were affected, compared with 5,500 in May and 8,200 in March.
The Government will continue to do all it can to assist the industry in the difficulties in export markets that have been mainly responsible for the recent short-time working and redundancies.